The Right Chemistry for a Cone 6 MgO Matte

The image (link below) compares the chemistry and recipes of four high-MgO matte glazes. The glaze on the far right is the initiator, the one against which the others are being compared. It is G2928C, a cone 6 Ravenscrag Slip matte (R-Matte) developed from Moore's matte original (has some tin to whiten it). It is conservative (is not as matte as the two others to its left, but it does not cutlery mark). It has a low Si:Al ratio and maximum recommended MgO and quite a bit of KNaO. But I wanted to understand what the implications were of adding and removing SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ in a magnesia matte, how much of a role does the MgO play. Well, it appears MgO is the key, the rest of the recipe can vary quite alot.

3728A is our original dolomite-testing recipe (Dolo-matte). It is 27% dolomite. It takes MgO to 0.4 molar and has very little KNaO. It has a stunning ivory surface, but cutlery marks. It has much lower SiO₂ and half the Al₂O₃ yet does not flow more (because of the greater MgO and less potent CaO-dominant flux mix).

2934 is more matte than R-Matte. It has more MgO and CaO at the expense of KNaO and Si:Al (the Si:Al ratio is the same). Amazingly it is actually flowing better. It does not cutlery-mark. The color is darker than Dolo-matte because it is developing a more complete glass that gives depth.

2934A was done to see if MgO would matte a high silica version. The Al₂O₃ was dropped way down, the SiO₂ taken upward for a ratio more than double R-Matte. You would think it would flow the same because the total Si+Al is actually less. But no. Does Al₂O₃ have to be high for this to work? No, Dolo-matte has low Al₂O₃. Is a low ratio needed? No Dolo-matte has a higher ratio that 2934 yet is more matte. Is significant KNaO needed? No, Dolo-matte and 2934 have very low KNaO.

So I think I know: You need lots of MgO, that is the magic. High or low Al₂O₃, but there is a SiO₂ sweet-spot where a non-markable glass develops. You don't need a lot of boron, this only has 0.1 (some cone 6 glazes have 5 times that). I am going to put a little tin in 2934 and raise (yes, I said raise) the silica a little for just slightly more matte.

Related Information

Exporting insight-live recipes to a CSV file

An Insight-live page displaying four cone 6 matte recipes. It has been exported to a CSV file which I have opened in my spreadsheet software. I then reorganized it to compare these 4 glazes and relate the chemistry to the melt flow tests.

Links

Glossary	Cutlery Marking Ceramic glazes that mark from cutlery are either not properly melted (lack flux), melted too much (lacking SiO2 and Al2O3), or have a micro-abrasive surface that abrades metal from cutlery.
Recipes	G2934 - Matte Glaze Base for Cone 6 A base MgO matte glaze recipe fires to a hard utilitarian surface and has very good working properties. Blend in the glossy if it is too matte.
Recipes	G1214Z1 - Cone 6 Silky Matte This glaze was born as a demonstration of how to use chemistry to convert a glossy cone 6 glaze into a matte.
Articles	G1214Z Cone 6 matte glaze This glaze was developed using the 1214W glossy as a starting point. This article overviews the types of matte glazes and rationalizes the method used to make this one.
Oxides	MgO - Magnesium Oxide, Magnesia

By Tony Hansen
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